It's located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively. It is currently in dispute with Russia over the Crimean peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014 but Ukraine and most of the international community still recognise as Ukrainian. Including Crimea, Ukraine has an area of 603,628 km2 (233,062 sq mi), making it the largest country entirely within Europe and the 46th largest country in the world, and a population of about 44.5 million, making it the 32 most populous country in the world.
Year that country joined the UN :
In 1999–2001. Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Historically, Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union, which had asked for seats for all 15 of its union republics. Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful, negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the quadripartite talks on the conflict in Moldova and promoted a peaceful resolution to conflict in the post-Soviet state of Georgia. Ukraine also has made a substantial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations since 1992.
People :
1. What are the people of the country called ?
A person from Ukraine is called Ukranian.
2. What is the offical language? What other languages do people speak ?
The official language is ukranian, although it's also recognised regional languages like :
Estimates compiled by the independent Razumkov Centre in a nationwide survey in 2006 found that 75.2 percent of the respondents believe in God and 22 percent said they did not believe in God. 37.4 percent said that they attended church on regular basis.
Among Ukrainians who are affiliated with an organised religion, the most common religion in Ukraine is Eastern Orthodoxy, currently split between three Church bodies: the Ukranian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate, the Ukranian Orthodox Church autonomous church body under the Patriarch of Moscow, and the Ukranian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
A distant second by the number of the followers is the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which practices a similar liturgical and spiritual tradition as Eastern Orthodoxy, but is in communion with the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church and recognises the primacy of the Pope as head of the Church.
Additionally, there are 863 Latin Rite Catholic communities, and 474 clergy members serving some one million Latin Rite Catholics in Ukraine. The group forms some 2.19 percent of the population and consists mainly of ethnic Poles and Hungarians, who live predominantly in the western regions of the country. Protestants in Ukraine form around 2.19 percent of the population. Smaller groups are also present.
Flag :
Draw the flag and describe the meaning of its symbols and colours :
As a national flag, the blue and yellow bicolour was officially used since the 1848 Spring of Nations when it was hoisted over the Lviv Rathaus. It was officially adopted as a state flag for the first time in 1918 by the short-lived West Ukranian People's Republic and subsequently used by the Ukranian People's Republic. When Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, the flag was outlawed and before 1949 there was no official state flag until adoption of the red-blue flag of the Ukranian SSR. People who were hoisting the blue-yellow flags in the Soviet Ukraine were prosecuted as criminals. The blue and yellow flag was provisionally adopted for official ceremonies in September 1991 following Ukrainian independence, before finally officially being restored in 1992.
Ukraine celebrates Flag Day each year on August 23 since 2004.
Government :
1. Is it a democratic or a non - democratic state?
Its form of government is a republic governed by a semi-presidential system with separation of power sbetween the executive, legislative and judicial. Its territory is organized as a unitary state composed of twenty-four oblast (regions or provinces) and two cities with special status: Kiev, the capital, and Sebastopol.
2. What is the name of the leader of the country?
The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Президент України, Prezydent Ukrayiny) is the Ukrainian head of state. The President represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. The President is directly elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term of office (whether the Presidential election is early or scheduled), limited to two terms consecutively. Currently, the president of Ukraine is Petró Poroshenko, who was elected in the presidential elections of 2014.
3. What type of government is the country ruled by ?
Its form of government is a republic governed by a semi-presidential system with separation of power sbetween the executive, legislative and judicial. Its territory is organized as a unitary state composed of twenty-four oblast (regions or provinces) and two cities with special status: Kiev, the capital, and Sebastopol.
4. Is there a separation of powers? Wich institution / person is in charge of each of the powers ?
The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal head of state. Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat unicameral parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. However, the President still retains the authority to nominate the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and of Defence for parliamentary approval, as well as the power to appoint the Prosecutor General and the head of the Security Service. Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court, should they be found to violate the constitution. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the President in accordance with the proposals of the Prime Minister. This system virtually requires an agreement between the President and the Prime Minister, and has in the past led to problems, such as when President Yushchenko exploited a perceived loophole by appointing so-called 'temporarily acting' officers, instead of actual governors or local leaders, thus evading the need to seek a compromise with the Prime Minister. This practice was controversial and was subject to Constitutional Court review. Ukraine has a large number of political parties, many of which have tiny memberships and are unknown to the general public small parties often join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocs) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections.
5. What are the main political parties of the country (socialist party, communist party, green party, republicans, democrats,etc.)? Describe briefly their ideas.
Ukraine has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. In the (October 2014 and last) Ukrainian parliamentary election 52 political parties nominated candidates. In the last nationwide (October 2015) local elections this number had grown to 132 political parties. Many parties in Ukraine have very small memberships and are unknown to the general public. Party membership in Ukraine is lower than 1% of the population eligible to vote (compared to an average 4.7% in the European Union). National parties currently not represented in Ukraine’s national parliament Verkhovna Rada do have representatives in municipal counsels. Small parties used to join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocks) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections; but on November 17, 2011 the Ukrainian Parliament approved an election law that banned the participation of blocs of political parties in parliamentary elections. Ukrainian society's trust of political parties is very low overall. According to an April 2014 poll by Razumkov Centre 14.7%
6. Was your country ever a colony? If so, when did it gain its independence ?
Neanderthal settlement in Ukraine is seen in the Molodova archaeological sites (43,000–45,000 BC) which include a mammoth bone dwelling. The territory is also considered to be the likely location for the human domestication of the horse. Modern human settlement in Ukraine and its vicinity dates back to 32,000 BC, with evidence of the Gravettian culture in the Crimean Mountains. By 4,500 BC, the Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture flourished in a wide area that included parts of modern Ukraine including Trypillia and the entire Dnieper-Dniester region. During the Iron Age, the land was inhabited by Cimmerians, Scythians, and Sarmatians. Between 700 BC and 200 BC it was part of the Scythian Kingdom, or Scythia. Later, colonies of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire, such as Tyras, Olbia and Chersonesus, were founded, beginning in the 6th century BC, on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea, and thrived well into the 6th century AD. The Goths stayed in the area but came under the sway of the Huns from the 370s AD. In the 7th century AD, the territory of eastern Ukraine was the centre of Old Great Bulgaria. At the end of the century, the majority of Bulgar tribes migrated in different directions, and the Khazars took over much of the land.
1. President of Ukraine. 2. Ukraine closing ties with Europe.
Population :
1. How many inhabitants does the country have ?
In 2015, Ukraine had estimated 44,429,471 million people.
2. Population density.
Population density in Ukraine is about 73.8/ square km .
3. Birth Rate. Reasons.
The current birth rate in Ukraine, as of 2010, is 10.8 births/1,000 population, and the death rate is 15.2 deaths/1,000 population. The phenomenon of lowest-low fertility, defined as total fertility below 1.3, is emerging throughout Europe and is attributed by many to postponement of the initiation of childbearing. Ukraine, where total fertility (a very low 1.1 in 2001), was one of the world's lowest, shows that there is more than one pathway to lowest-low fertility. Although Ukraine has undergone immense political and economic transformations during 1991–2004, it has maintained a young age at first birth and nearly universal childbearing. Analysis of official national statistics and the Ukrainian Reproductive Health Survey show that fertility declined to very low levels without a transition to a later pattern of childbearing. Findings from focus group interviews suggest explanations of the early fertility pattern. These findings include the persistence of traditional norms for childbearing and the roles of men and women, concerns about medical complications and infertility at a later age, and the link between early fertility and early marriage. To help mitigate the declining population, the government continues to increase child support payments. Thus it provides one-time payments of 12,250 hryvnias for the first child, 25,000 Hryvnias for the second and 50,000 Hryvnias for the third and fourth, along with monthly payments of 154 hryvnias per child. The demographic trend is showing signs of improvement, as the birth rate has been steadily growing since 2001. Net population growth over the first nine months of 2007 was registered in five provinces of the country (out of 24), and population shrinkage was showing signs of stabilising nationwide. In 2007 the highest birth rates were in the western oblasts. In 2008, Ukraine emerged from lowest-low fertility, and the upward trend has continued since, except for a slight dip in 2010 due to the economic crisis of 2009.
4. Death Rate. Reasons.
The death rate is 15.2 deaths/1,000 population, one factor contributing to such numbers is a high mortality rate among the male population of working age due to preventable causes such as alcohol poisoning and smoking. In 2007, Ukraine had the fourth fastest rate of population decline in the worldat −5% growth. The UN warned that Ukraine's population could fall by as much as 10 million by 2050 if trends did not improve.
5. Natural growth. Reasons.
Ukraine's population has been declining since the 1990s due to its high death rate and a low birth rate. The population is shrinking by over 150,000 annually since 1993. The birth rate has recovered in recent years from a low level around 2000, and is now comparable to the European average. It would need to increase by another 50% or so to stabilize the population and offset the high mortality rate.
In 2007, the country's rate of population decline was the fourth highest in the world.
Life expectancy is falling, and Ukraine suffers a high mortality rate from environmental pollution, poor diets, widespread smoking, extensive alcoholism and deteriorating medical care.
In the years 2008 to 2010, more than 1.5 million children were born in Ukraine, compared to fewer than 1.2 million during 1999–2001 during the worst of the demographic crisis. In 2008 Ukraine posted record-breaking birth rates since its 1991 independence. Infant mortality rates have also dropped from 10.4 deaths to 8.3 per 1,000 children under one year of age. This is lower than in 153 countries of the world.
6. How do migrations affect Ukraine ?
Significant migration took place in the first years of Ukrainian independence. More than one million people moved into Ukraine in 1991–92, mostly from the other former Soviet republics. In total, between 1991 and 2004, 2.2 million immigrated to Ukraine (among them, 2 million came from the other former Soviet Union states), and 2.5 million emigrated from Ukraine (among them, 1.9 million moved to other former Soviet Union republics).Currently, immigrants constitute an estimated 14.7% of the total population, or 6.9 million people; this is the fourth largest figure in the world. In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry,giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
Migrations :
1. Number of inmigrants. Where do they come from ? Why ?
Currently, immigrants constitute an estimated 14.7% of the total population, or 6.9 million people; this is thefourth largest figure in the world.In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry, giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
2. Number of emigrants. Where do they go? Why?
In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry, giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
3. Legislation of the country connected to migrations.
The global strategy of the International Organization for Migration envisages promoting migrants’ wellbeing, supporting integration of national minorities and strengthening the role of migrants in the development of their host countries and the countries of origin. IOM has been assisting the Government of Ukraine in harnessing the development potential of labour migration for the benefit of individual migrants, their communities and the Ukrainian society. In order to carry out its vision, IOM has been fostering economic integration of migrants through specialized micro-loan schemes for small enterprises; conducting research on labour migration and remittances; providing expert advice on migration legislation; and supporting the Government in discussing bilateral arrangements with main countries of destination for labour migrants. IOM also provides assistance to the Government of Ukraine in developing policies to effectively harness the link between migration and development through increasing awareness among key stakeholders on the nature, use and impact of remittances entering Ukraine, describing migrants’ and their households’ overall financial behaviour, as well as assessing the overall impact of migration on the country’s socio-economic development.
5. Problems connected to migrations :
There are few reasons which can explain this fact and it is not that Ukraine found the key to very effective migration policy. It is quite different. Ukrainian migration policy started to form only after the collapse of Soviet Union when the borders of country became open for the rest of the world. As a result, the lack of experience in the mentioned sphere caused the mistakes and ineffective steps taken by the government. However, because of political situation and unstable economy Ukraine is not very attractive for labor immigration. In contrast, Ukrainians leave the country in a search for job and as a result supply the labor emigration mostly to the Western countries, especially the neighboring ones. So, who are those of almost 7 million immigrants living in Ukraine? First of all, most of them moved after the collapse of the Soviet Union with the purpose of family reunification and returning to the native country after being misplaced during the War or in a process of people rotation during the Soviet times. Today the biggest minority in Ukraine is Russians who compose 17% of population. Other nationalities are Belarusian, Moldovan, Crimean Tatar, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, and Polish, who together amount to around 3% of population. Therefore, most of them have some Ukrainian roots or at least common history as the former Soviet Union citizens.
In addition to that due to its geopolitical position Ukraine became the corridor zone for migrants from Asian and African countries on their way to Western Europe, especially through the Ukrainian-Russian border, which is not very well controlled. This is an important issue because in such way Ukraine becomes the country of transit for illegal immigrants, which negatively influences not only the image of state on the international arena, but also results in increase of marginalized groups of aliens in society. Both mentioned categories of migrants do not experience the strong obstacles in the process of integration into the society, which is the issue in most European states as well as in the US: the former, because they are culturally close and it might be not that difficult for them; and the later, because they just do not stay long in the country. One more important issue connected with migration is the human trafficking mostly of Ukrainian young women not only to Near East and Balkans but also to Western Europe. The majority of them are looking for a work abroad as waitress, dancers or hostess, but instead are sold to sexual slavery. Nearly 120 thousands of Ukrainians have become the victims of trafficking since 1991, which is more than in any other Eastern European county. Moreover, state does not have effective mechanism to protect them or at least offer good job at home for them not to become labor migrants. Hence, Ukrainian migration policy is in need for cardinal changes and improvements, as with the process of globalization more and more people get the possibility to cross the borders. Human trafficking, economic migration as well as transit of illegal immigrants are the main issues which state needs to pay the most attention to. Because if they would not be properly managed, country might soon become completely incapable of protecting own citizens and at the same time the paradise for illegal immigrants from all over the world.
GEOGRAPHY :
1. Where is the country ?
At 603,628 square kilometres (233,062 sq mi) and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's 46th-largest country (after South Sudan, before Madagascar). It is the largest wholly European country and the second largest country in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France). It lies between latitudes 44° and 53° N, and longitudes 22° and 41° E. The landscape of Ukraine consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. Its various regions have diverse geographic features ranging from the highlands to the lowlands. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 metres (6,762 ft), and the Crimean Mountains on Crimea, in the extreme south along the coast. However Ukraine also has a number of highland regions such as the Volyn-Podillia Upland (in the west) and the Near-Dnipro Upland (on the right bank of Dnieper); to the east there are the south-western spurs of the Central Russian Uplands over which runs the border with Russian Federation. Near the Sea of Azov can be found the Donets Ridge and the Near Azov Upland. The snow melt from the mountains feeds the rivers, and natural changes in altitude form a sudden drop in elevation and create many opportunities to form waterfalls.
2. What other nations border the country ?
Ukraine is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively.
3. What kind of landscape does the country have?
The landscape of Ukraine consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. Its various regions have diverse geographic features ranging from the highlands to the lowlands. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 metres (6,762 ft), and the Crimean Mountains on Crimea, in the extreme south along the coast. However Ukraine also has a number of highland regions such as the Volyn-Podillia Upland (in the west) and the Near-Dnipro Upland (on the right bank of Dnieper); to the east there are the south-western spurs of the Central Russian Uplands over which runs the border with Russian Federation. Near the Sea of Azov can be found the Donets Ridge and the Near Azov Upland. The snow melt from the mountains feeds the rivers, and natural changes in altitude form a sudden drop in elevation and create many opportunities to form waterfalls.
4.What kind of climate does it have?
Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate, although the southern coast has a humid subtropical climate. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine receives around 1,200 millimetres (47.2 in) of precipitation annually, while Crimea receives around 400 millimetres (15.7 in). Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5–7 °C (41.9–44.6 °F) in the north, to 11–13 °C (51.8–55.4 °F) in the south.
.
Economy :
1.What is the most common sector of employment in the country?
Entre los sectores de la economía ucraniana aún en crecimiento se encuentra el mercado de tecnologías de información y comunicación, que en 2007 encabezó al resto de los mercados de los países de Europa central y oriental, con un índice de alrededor del 40% de crecimiento. Otra de las principales actividades económicas en el país es el turismo, con el cual Ucrania ocupa el octavo lugar en el mundo por el número de turistas recibidos, según la Organización Mundial del Turismo.
2. What is the unemployment rate of your country (by percentage)?
Unemployment Rate in Ukraine decreased to 9.60 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from 10 percent in the previous period as the number of unemployed people dropped by 66 Thousand. Unemployment Rate in Ukraine averaged 8.58 percent from 2003 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 and a record low of 6.50 percent in the third quarter of 2008. Unemployment Rate in Ukraine is reported by the State Statistics Service Of Ukraine.
3.What is the percentage of contribution of its sectors?
In 2014, Ukraine was ranked number 19 on the Emerging Market Energy Security Growth Prosperity Index, published by the think tank Bisignis Institute, which ranks emerging market countries using government corruption, GDP growth and oil reserve information.
Fuel resources :
Ukraine produces and processes its own natural gas and petroleum. However, the majority of these commodities are imported. Eighty percent of Ukrainian natural gas supplies are imported, mainly by Russia.
Natural gas is heavily utilised not only in energy production but also by steel and chemical industries of the country, as well as by the district heating sector. In 2012, Shell started exploration drilling for shale gas in Ukraine—a project aimed at the nation's total gas supply independence.
Ukraine has sufficient coal reserves and increases its use in electricity generation.
Power generation :
Ukraine has been a net energy exporting country, for example in 2011, 3.3% of electricity produced were exported, but also one of Europe's largest energy consumers. As of 2011, 47.6% of total electricity generation was from nuclear powerThe largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, is located in Ukraine. Most of the nuclear fuel has been coming from Russia. In 2008 Westinghouse Electric Company won a five-year contract selling nuclear fuel to three Ukrainian reactors starting in 2011. Following Euromaidan then President Viktor Yanukovich introduced a ban on Rosatom nuclear fuel shipments to Europe via Ukraine, which was in effect from 28 January until 6 March 2014. After the Russian annexation of Crimea in April 2014, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine Energoatom and Westinghouse extended the contract for fuel deliveries through 2020.
Coal and gas-fired thermal power stations and hydroelectricity are the second and third largest kinds of power generation in the country.
Table of Contents
'Freedom, Agreement, Goodness'.
Official country name :
Ukraine ( Україна )
Location :
It's located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively. It is currently in dispute with Russia over the Crimean peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014 but Ukraine and most of the international community still recognise as Ukrainian. Including Crimea, Ukraine has an area of 603,628 km2 (233,062 sq mi), making it the largest country entirely within Europe and the 46th largest country in the world, and a population of about 44.5 million, making it the 32 most populous country in the world.
Year that country joined the UN :
In 1999–2001. Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Historically, Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union, which had asked for seats for all 15 of its union republics. Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful, negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the quadripartite talks on the conflict in Moldova and promoted a peaceful resolution to conflict in the
post-Soviet state of Georgia. Ukraine also has made a substantial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations since 1992.
People :
1. What are the people of the country called ?
A person from Ukraine is called Ukranian.
2. What is the offical language? What other languages do people speak ?
The official language is ukranian, although it's also recognised regional languages like :
3. What is the most - practiced religion?
Estimates compiled by the independent Razumkov Centre in a nationwide survey in 2006 found that 75.2 percent of the respondents believe in God and 22 percent said they did not believe in God. 37.4 percent said that they attended church on regular basis.
Among Ukrainians who are affiliated with an organised religion, the most common religion in Ukraine is Eastern Orthodoxy, currently split between three Church bodies: the Ukranian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate, the Ukranian Orthodox Church autonomous church body under the Patriarch of Moscow, and the Ukranian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
A distant second by the number of the followers is the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which practices a similar liturgical and spiritual tradition as Eastern Orthodoxy, but is in communion with the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church and recognises the primacy of the Pope as head of the Church.
Additionally, there are 863 Latin Rite Catholic communities, and 474 clergy members serving some one million Latin Rite Catholics in Ukraine. The group forms some 2.19 percent of the population and consists mainly of ethnic Poles and Hungarians, who live predominantly in the western regions of the country. Protestants in Ukraine form around 2.19 percent of the population. Smaller groups are also present.
Flag :
Draw the flag and describe the meaning of its symbols and colours :
As a national flag, the blue and yellow bicolour was officially used since the 1848 Spring of Nations when it was hoisted over the Lviv Rathaus. It was officially adopted as a state flag for the first time in 1918 by the short-lived West Ukranian People's Republic and subsequently used by the Ukranian People's Republic. When Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, the flag was outlawed and before 1949 there was no official state flag until adoption of the red-blue flag of the Ukranian SSR. People who were hoisting the blue-yellow flags in the Soviet Ukraine were prosecuted as criminals. The blue and yellow flag was provisionally adopted for official ceremonies in September 1991 following Ukrainian independence, before finally officially being restored in 1992.
Ukraine celebrates Flag Day each year on August 23 since 2004.
Government :
1. Is it a democratic or a non - democratic state?
Its form of government is a republic governed by a semi-presidential system with separation of power sbetween the executive, legislative and judicial. Its territory is organized as a unitary state composed of twenty-four oblast (regions or provinces) and two cities with special status: Kiev, the capital, and Sebastopol.
2. What is the name of the leader of the country?
The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Президент України, Prezydent Ukrayiny) is the Ukrainian head of state. The President represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. The President is directly elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term of office (whether the Presidential election is early or scheduled), limited to two terms consecutively.
Currently, the president of Ukraine is Petró Poroshenko, who was elected in the presidential elections of 2014.
3. What type of government is the country ruled by ?
Its form of government is a republic governed by a semi-presidential system with separation of power sbetween the executive, legislative and judicial. Its territory is organized as a unitary state composed of twenty-four oblast (regions or provinces) and two cities with special status: Kiev, the capital, and Sebastopol.
4. Is there a separation of powers? Wich institution / person is in charge of each of the powers ?
The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal head of state. Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat unicameral parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. However, the President still retains the authority to nominate the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and of Defence for parliamentary approval, as well as the power to appoint the Prosecutor General and the head of the Security Service.
Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court, should they be found to violate the constitution. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the President in accordance with the proposals of the Prime Minister. This system virtually requires an agreement between the President and the Prime Minister, and has in the past led to problems, such as when President Yushchenko exploited a perceived loophole by appointing so-called 'temporarily acting' officers, instead of actual governors or local leaders, thus evading the need to seek a compromise with the Prime Minister. This practice was controversial and was subject to Constitutional Court review.
Ukraine has a large number of political parties, many of which have tiny memberships and are unknown to the general public small parties often join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocs) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections.
5. What are the main political parties of the country (socialist party, communist party, green party, republicans, democrats,etc.)? Describe briefly their ideas.
Ukraine has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. In the (October 2014 and last) Ukrainian parliamentary election 52 political parties nominated candidates. In the last nationwide (October 2015) local elections this number had grown to 132 political parties.
Many parties in Ukraine have very small memberships and are unknown to the general public. Party membership in Ukraine is lower than 1% of the population eligible to vote (compared to an average 4.7% in the European Union). National parties currently not represented in Ukraine’s national parliament Verkhovna Rada do have representatives in municipal counsels. Small parties used to join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocks) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections; but on November 17, 2011 the Ukrainian Parliament approved an election law that banned the participation of blocs of political parties in parliamentary elections. Ukrainian society's trust of political parties is very low overall. According to an April 2014 poll by Razumkov Centre 14.7%
6. Was your country ever a colony? If so, when did it gain its independence ?
Neanderthal settlement in Ukraine is seen in the Molodova archaeological sites (43,000–45,000 BC) which include a mammoth bone dwelling. The territory is also considered to be the likely location for the human domestication of the horse.
Modern human settlement in Ukraine and its vicinity dates back to 32,000 BC, with evidence of the Gravettian culture in the Crimean Mountains. By 4,500 BC, the Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture flourished in a wide area that included parts of modern Ukraine including Trypillia and the entire Dnieper-Dniester region. During the Iron Age, the land was inhabited by Cimmerians, Scythians, and Sarmatians. Between 700 BC and 200 BC it was part of the Scythian Kingdom, or Scythia.
Later, colonies of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire, such as Tyras, Olbia and Chersonesus, were founded, beginning in the 6th century BC, on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea, and thrived well into the 6th century AD. The Goths stayed in the area but came under the sway of the Huns from the 370s AD. In the 7th century AD, the territory of eastern Ukraine was the centre of Old Great Bulgaria. At the end of the century, the majority of Bulgar tribes migrated in different directions, and the Khazars took over much of the land.
1. President of Ukraine. 2. Ukraine closing ties with Europe.
Population :
1. How many inhabitants does the country have ?
In 2015, Ukraine had estimated 44,429,471 million people.
2. Population density.
Population density in Ukraine is about 73.8/ square km .
3. Birth Rate. Reasons.
The current birth rate in Ukraine, as of 2010, is 10.8 births/1,000 population, and the death rate is 15.2 deaths/1,000 population.
The phenomenon of lowest-low fertility, defined as total fertility below 1.3, is emerging throughout Europe and is attributed by many to postponement of the initiation of childbearing. Ukraine, where total fertility (a very low 1.1 in 2001), was one of the world's lowest, shows that there is more than one pathway to lowest-low fertility. Although Ukraine has undergone immense political and economic transformations during 1991–2004, it has maintained a young age at first birth and nearly universal childbearing. Analysis of official national statistics and the Ukrainian Reproductive Health Survey show that fertility declined to very low levels without a transition to a later pattern of childbearing. Findings from focus group interviews suggest explanations of the early fertility pattern. These findings include the persistence of traditional norms for childbearing and the roles of men and women, concerns about medical complications and infertility at a later age, and the link between early fertility and early marriage.
To help mitigate the declining population, the government continues to increase child support payments. Thus it provides one-time payments of 12,250 hryvnias for the first child, 25,000 Hryvnias for the second and 50,000 Hryvnias for the third and fourth, along with monthly payments of 154 hryvnias per child. The demographic trend is showing signs of improvement, as the birth rate has been steadily growing since 2001. Net population growth over the first nine months of 2007 was registered in five provinces of the country (out of 24), and population shrinkage was showing signs of stabilising nationwide. In 2007 the highest birth rates were in the western oblasts. In 2008, Ukraine emerged from lowest-low fertility, and the upward trend has continued since, except for a slight dip in 2010 due to the economic crisis of 2009.
4. Death Rate. Reasons.
The death rate is 15.2 deaths/1,000 population, one factor contributing to such numbers is a high mortality rate among the male population of working age due to preventable causes such as alcohol poisoning and smoking. In 2007, Ukraine had the fourth fastest rate of population decline in the world at −5% growth. The UN warned that Ukraine's population could fall by as much as 10 million by 2050 if trends did not improve.
5. Natural growth. Reasons.
Ukraine's population has been declining since the 1990s due to its high death rate and a low birth rate. The population is shrinking by over 150,000 annually since 1993. The birth rate has recovered in recent years from a low level around 2000, and is now comparable to the European average. It would need to increase by another 50% or so to stabilize the population and offset the high mortality rate.
In 2007, the country's rate of population decline was the fourth highest in the world.
Life expectancy is falling, and Ukraine suffers a high mortality rate from environmental pollution, poor diets, widespread smoking, extensive alcoholism and deteriorating medical care.
In the years 2008 to 2010, more than 1.5 million children were born in Ukraine, compared to fewer than 1.2 million during 1999–2001 during the worst of the demographic crisis. In 2008 Ukraine posted record-breaking birth rates since its 1991 independence. Infant mortality rates have also dropped from 10.4 deaths to 8.3 per 1,000 children under one year of age. This is lower than in 153 countries of the world.
6. How do migrations affect Ukraine ?
Significant migration took place in the first years of Ukrainian independence. More than one million people moved into Ukraine in 1991–92, mostly from the other former Soviet republics. In total, between 1991 and 2004, 2.2 million immigrated to Ukraine (among them, 2 million came from the other former Soviet Union states), and 2.5 million emigrated from Ukraine (among them, 1.9 million moved to other former Soviet Union republics).Currently, immigrants constitute an estimated 14.7% of the total population, or 6.9 million people; this is the fourth largest figure in the world. In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry,giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
Migrations :
1. Number of inmigrants. Where do they come from ? Why ?
Currently, immigrants constitute an estimated 14.7% of the total population, or 6.9 million people; this is the fourth largest figure in the world.In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry, giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
2. Number of emigrants. Where do they go? Why?
In 2006, there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry, giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. There are also large Ukrainian immigrant communities in the United States, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
3. Legislation of the country connected to migrations.
4. Institutions in charge of migrants.
The global strategy of the International Organization for Migration envisages promoting migrants’ wellbeing, supporting integration of national minorities and strengthening the role of migrants in the development of their host countries and the countries of origin.
IOM has been assisting the Government of Ukraine in harnessing the development potential of labour migration for the benefit of individual migrants, their communities and the Ukrainian society.
In order to carry out its vision, IOM has been fostering economic integration of migrants through specialized micro-loan schemes for small enterprises; conducting research on labour migration and remittances; providing expert advice on migration legislation; and supporting the Government in discussing bilateral arrangements with main countries of destination for labour migrants.
IOM also provides assistance to the Government of Ukraine in developing policies to effectively harness the link between migration and development through increasing awareness among key stakeholders on the nature, use and impact of remittances entering Ukraine, describing migrants’ and their households’ overall financial behaviour, as well as assessing the overall impact of migration on the country’s socio-economic development.
5. Problems connected to migrations :
There are few reasons which can explain this fact and it is not that Ukraine found the key to very effective migration policy. It is quite different.
Ukrainian migration policy started to form only after the collapse of Soviet Union when the borders of country became open for the rest of the world. As a result, the lack of experience in the mentioned sphere caused the mistakes and ineffective steps taken by the government.
However, because of political situation and unstable economy Ukraine is not very attractive for labor immigration. In contrast, Ukrainians leave the country in a search for job and as a result supply the labor emigration mostly to the Western countries, especially the neighboring ones. So, who are those of almost 7 million immigrants living in Ukraine? First of all, most of them moved after the collapse of the Soviet Union with the purpose of family reunification and returning to the native country after being misplaced during the War or in a process of people rotation during the Soviet times. Today the biggest minority in Ukraine is Russians who compose 17% of population. Other nationalities are Belarusian, Moldovan, Crimean Tatar, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, and Polish, who together amount to around 3% of population. Therefore, most of them have some Ukrainian roots or at least common history as the former Soviet Union citizens.
In addition to that due to its geopolitical position Ukraine became the corridor zone for migrants from Asian and African countries on their way to Western Europe, especially through the Ukrainian-Russian border, which is not very well controlled. This is an important issue because in such way Ukraine becomes the country of transit for illegal immigrants, which negatively influences not only the image of state on the international arena, but also results in increase of marginalized groups of aliens in society. Both mentioned categories of migrants do not experience the strong obstacles in the process of integration into the society, which is the issue in most European states as well as in the US: the former, because they are culturally close and it might be not that difficult for them; and the later, because they just do not stay long in the country.
One more important issue connected with migration is the human trafficking mostly of Ukrainian young women not only to Near East and Balkans but also to Western Europe. The majority of them are looking for a work abroad as waitress, dancers or hostess, but instead are sold to sexual slavery. Nearly 120 thousands of Ukrainians have become the victims of trafficking since 1991, which is more than in any other Eastern European county. Moreover, state does not have effective mechanism to protect them or at least offer good job at home for them not to become labor migrants.
Hence, Ukrainian migration policy is in need for cardinal changes and improvements, as with the process of globalization more and more people get the possibility to cross the borders. Human trafficking, economic migration as well as transit of illegal immigrants are the main issues which state needs to pay the most attention to. Because if they would not be properly managed, country might soon become completely incapable of protecting own citizens and at the same time the paradise for illegal immigrants from all over the world.
GEOGRAPHY :
1. Where is the country ?
At 603,628 square kilometres (233,062 sq mi) and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's 46th-largest country (after South Sudan, before Madagascar). It is the largest wholly European country and the second largest country in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France). It lies between latitudes 44° and 53° N, and longitudes 22° and 41° E.
The landscape of Ukraine consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. Its various regions have diverse geographic features ranging from the highlands to the lowlands. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 metres (6,762 ft), and the Crimean Mountains on Crimea, in the extreme south along the coast. However Ukraine also has a number of highland regions such as the Volyn-Podillia Upland (in the west) and the Near-Dnipro Upland (on the right bank of Dnieper); to the east there are the south-western spurs of the Central Russian Uplands over which runs the border with Russian Federation. Near the Sea of Azov can be found the Donets Ridge and the Near Azov Upland. The snow melt from the mountains feeds the rivers, and natural changes in altitude form a sudden drop in elevation and create many opportunities to form waterfalls.
2. What other nations border the country ?
Ukraine is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively.
3. What kind of landscape does the country have?
The landscape of Ukraine consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. Its various regions have diverse geographic features ranging from the highlands to the lowlands. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 metres (6,762 ft), and the Crimean Mountains on Crimea, in the extreme south along the coast. However Ukraine also has a number of highland regions such as the Volyn-Podillia Upland (in the west) and the Near-Dnipro Upland (on the right bank of Dnieper); to the east there are the south-western spurs of the Central Russian Uplands over which runs the border with Russian Federation. Near the Sea of Azov can be found the Donets Ridge and the Near Azov Upland. The snow melt from the mountains feeds the rivers, and natural changes in altitude form a sudden drop in elevation and create many opportunities to form waterfalls.
4.What kind of climate does it have?
Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate, although the southern coast has a humid subtropical climate. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine receives around 1,200 millimetres (47.2 in) of precipitation annually, while Crimea receives around 400 millimetres (15.7 in). Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5–7 °C (41.9–44.6 °F) in the north, to 11–13 °C (51.8–55.4 °F) in the south.
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Economy :
1.What is the most common sector of employment in the country?
Entre los sectores de la economía ucraniana aún en crecimiento se encuentra el mercado de tecnologías de información y comunicación, que en 2007 encabezó al resto de los mercados de los países de Europa central y oriental, con un índice de alrededor del 40% de crecimiento.
Otra de las principales actividades económicas en el país es el turismo, con el cual Ucrania ocupa el octavo lugar en el mundo por el número de turistas recibidos, según la Organización Mundial del Turismo.
2. What is the unemployment rate of your country (by percentage)?
Unemployment Rate in Ukraine decreased to 9.60 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from 10 percent in the previous period as the number of unemployed people dropped by 66 Thousand. Unemployment Rate in Ukraine averaged 8.58 percent from 2003 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 and a record low of 6.50 percent in the third quarter of 2008. Unemployment Rate in Ukraine is reported by the State Statistics Service Of Ukraine.
3.What is the percentage of contribution of its sectors?
4. Energy: production/consumption; exports/imports.
In 2014, Ukraine was ranked number 19 on the Emerging Market Energy Security Growth Prosperity Index, published by the think tank Bisignis Institute, which ranks emerging market countries using government corruption, GDP growth and oil reserve information.
Fuel resources :
Ukraine produces and processes its own natural gas and petroleum. However, the majority of these commodities are imported. Eighty percent of Ukrainian natural gas supplies are imported, mainly by Russia.Natural gas is heavily utilised not only in energy production but also by steel and chemical industries of the country, as well as by the district heating sector. In 2012, Shell started exploration drilling for shale gas in Ukraine—a project aimed at the nation's total gas supply independence.
Ukraine has sufficient coal reserves and increases its use in electricity generation.
Power generation :
Ukraine has been a net energy exporting country, for example in 2011, 3.3% of electricity produced were exported, but also one of Europe's largest energy consumers. As of 2011, 47.6% of total electricity generation was from nuclear powerThe largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, is located in Ukraine. Most of the nuclear fuel has been coming from Russia. In 2008 Westinghouse Electric Company won a five-year contract selling nuclear fuel to three Ukrainian reactors starting in 2011. Following Euromaidan then President Viktor Yanukovich introduced a ban on Rosatom nuclear fuel shipments to Europe via Ukraine, which was in effect from 28 January until 6 March 2014. After the Russian annexation of Crimea in April 2014, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine Energoatom and Westinghouse extended the contract for fuel deliveries through 2020.
Coal and gas-fired thermal power stations and hydroelectricity are the second and third largest kinds of power generation in the country.